Back sooner than I thought I would be : ) Hope you've all enjoyed this story to some extent. Pretty sad that this is how I am spending Valentines Day night but oh well, it's all commercial anyway ;)

XX

The shadowy figure at the cave entrance slowly entered the cave. The lions were quite in awe to see the tall creature enter the cave. She stood above them all on a pair of thin stalk-like legs. Her feathers were quite puffed out perhaps due to nervousness.

The stranger lowered her long neck down to ask Rafiki "Did you want me to come back later or is now the time?"

"Now is the time," answered Rafiki.

"The time for what?" came Kiara's voice from behind them all. Judging by the blood stains aeound her mouth, she had just returned from what must have been a successful hunt.

"It is the time for Camelus, to become the kingdoms new major-domo," answered Rafiki patting the creature which was clearly an Ostrich on the back, ignoring the stunned looks on the lions faces.

"Umm, don't we get a say in this?" asked Nala, with a raised eyebrow.

"The young Mufasa didn't seem to mind when I chose Zazu to be his adviser," replayed the mandrill with a slight smirk. "Do you have a better bird for de job in mind?"

"Well no but…," began Simba, but was unable to finish as Rafiki gave him a whack on the head.

"Then it's settled than, Camelus shall start tomorrow," grinned the shaman clapping his hands together and then guiding the ostrich outside of the cave.

"Hang on wait a minute!" Simba called after Rafiki, while rubbing his sore head, before the mandrill was able to go more than a few paces. "She seems very nice but how can we expect a flightless bird to travel around the whole of the pride lands to gather information?"

"How do you tink I was able to retrieve Zazu and company in less than two days?" replied Rafiki, turning around to face them again.

"Camelus is very fast," butted in Pumbaa nervously to fill the short silence, "I had quit a bit of trouble keeping up with her on the way here, and I think she was only jogging for my sake..."

Camelus smiled gratefully.

"Even I, while flying, didn't get very far ahead at all," added Zazu.

"Do you think she would be good for the job Zazu?" asked Simba bending down to Zazu's level.

"She would be a fine choice sir," nodded Zazu. "I admit I had my doubts when she said that Rafiki had told her to speak with me about duties and protocol but I now after having spent some time in her company, have no doubt of her capabilities."

"Very well, then," announced Simba, "Starting tomorrow Camelus, shall be the new Major-Domo."

With that Camelus gave a short bowing motion with her neck, "It will be an honour."

"Now that that's settled….LETS EAT!" cheered Timon. Who then grabbed Pumbaa by the tusk and steered him outside.

"Hmm, a bit anti climatic I know, but we do have a fresh kill outside and I know you haven't eaten all day daddy," said Kiara.

"True, Zazu would you and Ma mind watching the cubs while Nala, Kovu, Kiara and I have dinner?"

"Yes, I suppose so," sighed Zazu.

Xx

All then left the cave, even Rafiki and Camelus left, leaving just Zazu, Maha and three fast asleep lion cubs.

"Hmm, that's funny, I thought they would make Camelus do the babysitting…I mean she's just apparently started this job and your retired," thought Maha aloud.

"Well, I suppose they did say, starting tomorrow," replied Zazu, looking over at the young lion cubs and remembered what a handful Nala and Simba were at that age. A cheeky grin slowly came across his face.

"What's so amusing?" asked Maha with her eyebrow raised and her hands on her hips.

"I only have to take care of these cubs for about an hour or two; she will have to look after them until they reach maturity…"

Simba could be heard outside saying, "Come on Nala, no fair, don't push me!"

"..and perhaps long after that," Zazu chuckled.

Xxx

And at last this story comes to an end sorry if you found it a bit anti climatic but it is just a light comedy ;) Funny thing is though I originally was going to put Camelus as a non successful applicant as I thought as a flightless bird it would be silly but then I thought about how she would responded to any questions regarding this and thought she would just say "I can run really fast" and couldn't think of any reasons myself as to why she wouldn't get the job lol.

Anyway incase anyone was wondering the name Camelus came from the scientific name for Ostrich which is Struthio camelus. Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it .